bmags

I think Manziel will be a top 15 QB. I'd probably hate the kid if he went to my high school, but on the other hand he played football the way everyone dreams they would be playing football. His pocket presence is phenomenal, and nothing cripples a QBs chances more than not being able to hang there (see Blaine Gabbert). I think for some reason people think he has Tim Tebow's arm just because he had so much success in college and was so popular.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 24, 2014 -> 07:39 PM) Every team gameplans against the defensive stars on the other side of the ball. It's not like he was any different than other top notch DE's when it comes to planning. If I am a bad team I want to draft a player that I KNOW will be an effort/leader guy on defense IMO. I'm not completely disagreeing with you. I knew the Sheldon Richardson would be a great NFL player specifically because the guy was not only disruptive, but he was making tackles 30-40 yards down the field. I honestly don't think he was ever out of the frame when a tackle was made. His motor was crazy. But I remember the Scar preview piece on rockmnation broke down how often a play went to Clowney's side, and it was crazy. Runs always went to the right. Teams were always rolling out right. I think his speed and hit power are plus plus tools. I think he tracks the ball well. I really can't see him busting or not being a starter, he just might not be a star.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 24, 2014 -> 06:53 PM) I believe in those players more than non-effort guys, even if he was packing it in for an NFL contract (which is also a red flag to me). Him being on the same team with Marcus Lattimore may have affected his psychology a little.

I think Clowney will be dominant, but I do think questions about his motor are warranted. But in any questions about his production, it should be noted how much offenses adjusted to avoid his side of the ball. They ran away from him, they rolled out away from him on passes. On the other hand, Mizzou had Britt our OT (maybe a 7th rounder, but he only benched 22 reps) go up against him solo and he really didn't do much that game. Their D as a whole was stout but he didn't and should have that game.

I binged the eps of True Detective to catch up to live. Probably a terrible episode to catch up to as it largely served as a table setter. Fun show though, I haven't been this obssessive over clues since seasons 1 and 2 of Lost before all of those spider bite episodes became more common.

QUOTE (OsweGo-Go Sox @ Feb 24, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) I went last year, Monday-Wednesday. Amazing experience with terrific access to players (you get to see just about everybody up close), can't recommend it more highly.. Each session was between $35-60 for those days, I think. On sale to general public March 3rd. Awesome, and I'm guessing hotels weren't too bad in Cincinnati either. From your experience would I need to be ready to jump on tickets on March 3rd or will there be time to put this together?

Makes sense. I've often been surprised how Inside the NFL for HBO had different station personalities join.

While excessive, I don't think many Americans realize how much that is used abroad. All of my friends from Brazil still chat me with it.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 20, 2014 -> 10:14 PM) He helps where they don't need him - defense. That said, now they don't have to play Granger. It will be interesting to see how he settles in as a role player again. His role of being #1 option probably exhasperated his weaknesses, going back to a role player mode may show us whether he's progressed at all.

Sigh, I'm going to lose my bet. edit: big game vs. milwaukee coming up.

Remember last offseason when people were justifying the offense looking so poor because they were facing a defense that was so good? Funny how that worked out.

I think Pacers will turn it on in playoffs, but I feel like Heat are learning to master "playing for the playoffs" and taking it easy in the regular season.

New cap is up 5% to 130 mill. Better or worse than expected?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 08:30 PM) They did in the link “I’m glad I don’t have to face them (in the regular season),” Sale said. “Abreu got in there, and I was like, ‘All right, someone else can pitch.’ I’ll make sure to keep that L screen in front of me. Those guys look good. Everyone looks like they’re coming in, gaining some weight, looking strong. I’m looking forward to it.” Abreu and Garcia might have looked imposing, but they were hardly confident facing pitches at 90 mph-plus for the first time. Garcia looked uncomfortable facing Sale’s fastball and then laughed when the left-hander threw an off-speed pitch that buckled his knees. Well, it is Sale we are talking about. Glad he gets to face an ace in practice.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:14 PM) It is amusing that this juror gives a face interview yet refuses to give her name to protect her family. Less amusing, that 2 people could actually believe self defense could be used.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 03:06 PM) I think that team could win a championship with Ronnie f***ing Brewer at SG. Me too.

Why did Frank get all prissy on Twitter earlier? What rookie was compared to him?

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Feb 18, 2014 -> 10:32 PM) IF the facts are as laid out by bmags, and there wasn't actually a gun in the car, then the only way to justify the reasonable far of imminent harm/death is that a carload of loud black teens is sufficient to justify making the inference that one of them is armed. That's an awful decision by the jury. Yeah, it's up to the jury to decide, but that doesn't excuse the fact that it is a bad result under those facts. Well said.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 18, 2014 -> 09:21 PM) I agree with you. HOWEVA, there was SOME evidence (however strong or credible) that the guy thought the kid pulled a gun out. I don't believe it based on what I've read, I think it's totally discredited by his wife who testified that he never told her about a gun, but whatever. I'm not about to sit here and claim that based on my reading of other peoples' summaries of testimony/reaction that I know exactly what evidence was offered and how a reasonable person should have voted. This guy isn't getting out of jail anytime soon, and the murder conviction is just a technicality at this point. He may or may not get convicted with another jury, but the end result is the same - the guy is spending the rest of his life behind bars for being a dumbass criminal. But there was no gun. He'd get credit if there WAS a gun. But instead it was just a car full of teenagers being loud and he shot them. You don't get points for being that wrong.

blah blah

Just to reiterate what happened in this story: Man goes to gas station, girlfriend leaves the car and goes into store. Man sees car full of black teens with music blaring. Man drives up next to car and has words with teens. Teen driver initially turns down lyrics, but eventually turns it back up and words were exchanged. Man shoots gun into car full of black teens. Picks up girlfriend. Drives off. Man gets pizza, goes to motel and eats pizza. Man gets arrested. Man writes letters from prison that the reason the teen died was that he participated in thug culture. Man only gets convicted of 3 counts of attempted murder. I don't care whether the years applied to the sentence are lengthy, that you can't get convicted for murder with what happened above is infuriating.

That's so frustrating, there were no weapons in their car.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 17, 2014 -> 10:55 PM) These verdicts don't make any sense then. How can they find him guilty of attempted murder three times (implying that they didn't buy his self defense arguments and that the shootings were unjustified) but then not find him guilty of at least manslaughter when the 4th kid was shot and ends up dead? Completely agree. But apparently there was a handful of jurors that would not vote him guilty. "Sure sure, he tried to kill the 3 kids, but he didn't have anything to do with the kid who ended up dead! See what I'm sayin? Perfect sense".

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 17, 2014 -> 09:09 PM) Technically true, but that's only because of overzealous prosecutors. Incorrect, Judge informed jury that they could convict him of lesser charges, including 2nd degree murder.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Feb 17, 2014 -> 06:41 PM) I see a Stand Your Ground type serial killer on a cop show drama in the future. He "thought he saw a shotgun".